Soul Khan
{{short description|American songwriter, rapper and retired battle rapper}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Soul Khan
| image = Soul Khan.jpg
| caption = Soul Khan performing live
| birth_name = Noah Weston
| birth_place = West Hollywood, California, U.S.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|04|18}}
| origin = Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, U.S.
| genre = Hip hop
| years_active = 2010–present
| label = Independent
| associated_acts = Homeboy Sandman, Brown Bag AllStars, Akie Bermiss, Koncept, Sene, True Vintage
| website = http://soulkhan.com
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- songwriter
}}
}}
Noah Weston, better known as Soul Khan (born April 18, 1985) is an American rapper and songwriter. Born in West Hollywood and raised in Woodland Hills, California. He currently{{As of when|date=August 2023}} resides in Brooklyn, New York City.{{cite web|title=Official Bio|url=http://soulkhan.com/bio/|accessdate=31 January 2013|archive-date=26 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126050251/http://soulkhan.com/bio/|url-status=live}} After a short career in battle rap that started in late 2008, in which he appeared in American circuits such as Grindtime and Smack/URL, as well as outside the United States, notably in Canada (KOTD) and United Kingdom (Don't Flop), he retired from the scene to focus his attention on his musical career in early 2010. He is a member of the Brown Bag AllStars, a collective of emcees and producers from the Brooklyn area.{{cite web|title=Soul Khan bio|url=http://soulkhan.com/bio/|accessdate=31 January 2013|archive-date=26 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126050251/http://soulkhan.com/bio/|url-status=live}}
Music career
Soul Khan began battle rapping in 2008 and retired in 2010.{{cite web | url = http://buzzntheburgh.com/soul-khan-interview/ | title = Soul Khan Interview | date = November 8, 2013 | author = BuzzNtheBurgh | publisher = Pittsburgh Buzz | accessdate = June 18, 2016 | archive-date = June 25, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160625171600/http://buzzntheburgh.com/soul-khan-interview/ | url-status = live }} After retiring from battle rap, Soul Khan became outspoken about his regret over using language that many consider offensive to marginalized groups like the LGBT community and women. Since as early as 2012, he has expressed his remorse on social media.{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/soulkhan/status/281538677656670208 | title = If I could change one thing about my battle past, it'd be to have never said anything homophobic or sexist. Makes me feel stupid to hear it. | date = December 19, 2012 | author = Noah Weston | accessdate = August 7, 2018}} In January 2020, Soul Khan returned to battle rap for a one-time performance against Dizaster in the King of the Dot league.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiM3sDcEPc4 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905005546/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiM3sDcEPc4 |date=2022-09-05 }} | KOTD - Rap Battle - Dizaster vs Soul Khan At the end of 2022, Soul Khan returned for another battle rap performance against A Ward on iBattleTV.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSuTln3Eug4 | title=SOUL KHAN vs a WARD - iBattleTV | website=YouTube | date=13 February 2023 }} Since then he has announced he will be participating in more battle rap events.
Soul Khan met his current group, The Brown Bag Allstars, while working at Fat Beats in New York City.{{cite web|title=Village Voice interview|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/12/soul_khan_fatbeats.php/|accessdate=23 June 2013|archive-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218110034/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/12/soul_khan_fatbeats.php|url-status=live}} In late 2010, Soul Khan released his free album Soul Like Khan.{{cite web|title=Daily Tar Heel interview|url=http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2012/02/qampa_with_soul_khan|accessdate=23 June 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054848/http://www.dailytarheel.com/index.php/article/2012/02/qampa_with_soul_khan|url-status=live}} The following year, he started releasing his Love Supreme series, four EPs in dedication to John Coltrane's legendary album by the same name, A Love Supreme.{{cite web|title=Village Voice interview|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/12/soul_khan_fatbeats.php/|accessdate=11 December 2012|archive-date=18 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118211109/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/12/soul_khan_fatbeats.php|url-status=live}} The first EP, Acknowledgement was produced by DeeJay Element with an upbeat approach to help listeners feel "renewed."{{cite web|title=MTV News interview|website=MTV|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/674845/mixtape-daily-soul-khan-decided-to-take-an-upbeat-approach-in-acknowledgement.jhtml|access-date=23 June 2013|archive-date=25 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625081929/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/674845/mixtape-daily-soul-khan-decided-to-take-an-upbeat-approach-in-acknowledgement.jhtml|url-status=dead}} The second EP, Resolution, was produced by Marink.{{cite web|title=The Madd Bloggers|url=http://www.themadbloggers.com/2011/09/soul-khan-resolution-produced-by-marink.html|accessdate=23 June 2013|archive-date=16 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016162138/http://www.themadbloggers.com/2011/09/soul-khan-resolution-produced-by-marink.html|url-status=live}} Pursuance EP,{{cite web|title=Birthplace Magazine|date=19 December 2011|url=http://www.birthplacemag.com/2011/12/soul-khan-pursuance-ep-release-concert-recap-photos-videos/|accessdate=23 June 2013|archive-date=8 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308214746/http://www.birthplacemag.com/2011/12/soul-khan-pursuance-ep-release-concert-recap-photos-videos/|url-status=live}} produced by Audible Doctor is the third and Psalm, produced by Abnormal completed the series.{{cite web|title=Kevin Nottingham|url=http://www.kevinnottingham.com/2012/12/11/soul-khan-psalm-ep/|accessdate=23 June 2013|archive-date=6 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106174741/http://www.kevinnottingham.com/2012/12/11/soul-khan-psalm-ep/|url-status=live}} Soul Khan's song "Speeding Bullets" was also on the 2012 compilation album College Radio Day.{{cite AV media | url = https://www.amazon.com/College-Radio-Day-Album-Explicit/dp/B009L576V6 | title = College Radio Day | date = October 12, 2012 | website = Amazon.com | publisher = Amazon Digital Services LLC | access-date = September 14, 2017 | archive-date = March 8, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160308190724/http://www.amazon.com/College-Radio-Day-Album-Explicit/dp/B009L576V6 | url-status = live }}
Soul Khan performed at 2013 Bonnaroo with Black Violin, Jeni Suk, & Knower as the collective "Sooper Groop.".{{cite web|title=Fuse TV interview|website=Fuse|url=http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2013/06/bonnaroo-2013-soul-khan|accessdate=23 June 2013|archive-date=1 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001202509/http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2013/06/bonnaroo-2013-soul-khan|url-status=live}} Soul Khan lists Pharoahe Monch, Posdnous, Paul Robeson, & David Ruffin as musical influences.
Soul Khan was listed in Allhiphop's Top 50 Underground Hip Hop Artists of 2012.{{cite web|title=Allhiphop.com|date=January 2013|url=http://allhiphop.com/2013/01/01/2012-allhiphops-top-50-in-underground-hip-hop/|accessdate=24 June 2013|archive-date=28 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628110353/http://allhiphop.com/2013/01/01/2012-allhiphops-top-50-in-underground-hip-hop/|url-status=live}}
Politics
In February 2022, Soul Khan announced his candidacy for the New York State Democratic Committee.{{cite tweet |author=Noah Weston for District Leader |user=noah4DL |number=1497350573049454603 |date=25 February 2022 |title=I'm running for Democratic District Leader to reshape the party into one for the working class: the renters, transit riders, service workers, caregivers (paid & unpaid), and everyone else who makes up the soul of this city. Please help if you can: https://t.co/1DqLeIBNS1 |language=en |access-date=24 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418215126/https://twitter.com/noah4DL/status/1497350573049454603 |archive-date=18 April 2022 |url-status=live}}
He is a member Democratic Socialists of America.{{cite tweet |author=ManyYids BFE POV |user=soulkhan |number=1283825154905317381 |date=16 July 2020 |title=Assembly 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Member 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Marcela 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Mitaynes 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Congratulations to @marcelaforny, @apellitteri43, @bibachowdhury, @Skitelman, and everyone who contributed to this incredible win by one of our amazing candidates on @nycDSA's @DSAForTheMany slate. |language=en |access-date=24 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418215128/https://twitter.com/soulkhan/status/1283825154905317381 |archive-date=18 April 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite tweet |author=ManyYids BFE POV |user=soulkhan |number=1037822617292599297 |date=6 September 2018 |title=The smear pieces on Julia Salazar are a sign that they're afraid she'll win. And the best way you can help fight back is volunteer as much as you can. With your support, we can triple axel over the bullshit and elect Julia on Sept 13. https://t.co/IiN6rkmTmj |language=en |access-date=24 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418215138/https://twitter.com/soulkhan/status/1037822617292599297 |archive-date=18 April 2022 |url-status=live}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
- Soul Like Khan (2010)
=EPs=
- Acknowledgement (2011)
- Resolution (2011)
- Pursuance (2011)
- Wellstone (2012)
- Psalm (2012){{cite web|title=Allhiphop.com interview|date=21 December 2012|url=http://allhiphop.com/2012/12/21/a-battle-rappers-mc-soul-khan-of-brown-bag-allstars-on-not-fcking-around/|accessdate=23 June 2013|archive-date=23 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523002716/http://allhiphop.com/2012/12/21/a-battle-rappers-mc-soul-khan-of-brown-bag-allstars-on-not-fcking-around/|url-status=live}}
- Hugo and Rufus (2016)
=Collaboration albums=
- Brown Bag Season Volume 1 (2011)
- Once Again - Hard Luck Banjoes (Soul Khan & DJ Brace) (2016)
=Selected guest appearances=
- Aabaraki - "Karate f/ Soul Khan" "Aabaraki" (2011)
- PremRock & Willie Green - "Had To Be Me (f/ C-Rayz Walz, Soul Khan & DJ Addict) PremRock & Willie Green (2011)
- El Da Sensei... - "Nu World (Part II) (f/ Nutso and Soul Khan)" The Nu World Remix EP (2011){{cite web|title=2Dopeboyz|url=http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/11/04/el-da-sensei-nu-world-pt-2-f-nutso-soul-khan/|accessdate=4 November 2011|archive-date=9 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109183647/http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/11/04/el-da-sensei-nu-world-pt-2-f-nutso-soul-khan/|url-status=live}}
- Koncept - "Aspirations (f/ Soul Khan)" Awaken (2012)
- Koncept - "The Only Thing (f/ Soul Khan)" Awaken (2012)
- The Audible Doctor - "Stayin Busy Remix (f/ Silent Knight, Kon, Rasheed Chappell, YC the Cynic and Soul Khan) I Think That... (2012)
- YC The Cynic - "More and More (f/ Soul Khan, Van Pea and Sene)" Fall FWD (2012)
- Sene - "We Are Couleurs" (f/ Soul Khan)" Brooklyknight (2012)
- Nitty Scott MC - "Beautiful Struggle" (f/ Soul Khan & Akie Bermiss) "The Boombox Diaries, Vol.1" (2012){{cite web|title=Complex review|website=Complex Networks|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/08/nitty-scott-mc-breaks-down-her-ep-the-boombox-diaries-vol1/12-a-beautiful-struggle-f-soul-khan-and-akie-bermiss|accessdate=28 August 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035145/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/08/nitty-scott-mc-breaks-down-her-ep-the-boombox-diaries-vol1/12-a-beautiful-struggle-f-soul-khan-and-akie-bermiss|url-status=live}}
- Danimal Lector - "Look Out Now" (f/ Soul Khan) "Bars Attack" (2013)
- Esoligh - "Being" (f/Koncept, Soul Khan and Cee belle) The Way I See The World (2014)
- Kirswords - "Tri-State Mindstate" (f/ Soul Khan and Joe Swisher) "ABM Records Presents The Vault" (2015)
- Sparx - "Just Begun" (f/ Kirswords, Koncept, Aayu, Soul Khan, Joe Swisher, and Enrichment) "ABM Records Presents The Vault" (2016)
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://soulkhan.com/|Soul Khan}} – official site
- [https://www.facebook.com/soulkhan/ Soul Khan] – Facebook
- [https://www.twitter.com/soulkhan/ Soul Khan] – Twitter
- [https://www.youtube.com/soulkhan/ Soul Khan] – YouTube
- [http://www.rapgrid.com/rappers/soul-khan/ Soul Khan] – Rap Grid
- [http://soulkhan.bandcamp.com/ Soul Khan] – Bandcamp
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Soul}}
Category:American male rappers
Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from California
Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from New York (state)
Category:New York (state) socialists
Category:California socialists
Category:Rappers from Los Angeles